I took my father out crow hunting, he's sitting aound the house too much lately. He is in his 70's now and battling some cancer. I figured some fresh air would help him out. After we killed a few and slapped some high-5's, he had a huge grin on, but I was even happier. He used my Winchester SXP 12 gauge pump that I bought last summer. He did well with it, really knocked the feathers off a few. Good medicine being together for sure.
Not near as many crows today, but what did come in, came in very close. Killed several under 15 yards away. After we took this picture, I was driving across wide open fields and we came across about 200 crows feeding in the cow crap. I got out of the truck and put the FoxPro on the roof. I hit "dying crow" and ducked down behind the open door. I had just loaded the Winchester pump. Several crows immediately came right over the truck. I fired 3 times, 2 dropped and the third made it to the edge of the trees and went down. So the day's total was 24 in about 4 hours.
Here's Dad with what we shot.
-- Edited by Mainehunt on Tuesday 31st of January 2012 05:57:39 PM
BTW- cold today, 6 degrees in the blind. Didn't want Dad to get too cold so I took my Mr. Heater Jr. with me. Pretty nice having that little propane heater in there with us.
Nice Kev, went small game hunting with my son today, didn't see anything but it was 50 degrees here in upstate NY, pretty nice for the last day in Jan.
Great adventure Mainehunt. I love hunting crows in the snow...ducks too. Great taking your father out for some fresh air as well. Further, I too in extreme situations have used my vehicle as cover. Crow don't seem to care even with the caller on the roof as long as the vehicle is a neutral colour. My buddy has an older blue and white GMC truck. Crows wont come near it.
Ted
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Life's tough... It's even tougher if you're stupid. John Wayne
That is awesome. I will take my dad anytime. I love hearing stories like this. There is nothing better than hunting with you dad or kids. I cherish those moments. I'm glad you guys had a good time. Good Job buddy!!
When I was a kid my dad used to carry me on his shoulders through the duck marsh. He'd leave me on a rat house and set a few deeks out. I'd watch the mallards play in and him shoot with precision. He would never waste a round as he was the product of the great depression of the 1930's. I loved doing that and remember those days like it was yesterday.
The last time I hunted ducks with my Dad was over a decade ago when he was in his late 70's. He shot a couple ducks and I almost had to carry him on my shoulders out of the marsh. When we got back to the truck he had his customary beer and he said " I'm done. Had a good run at it and a lot of good times". The strange creepy thing is that this was the very same spot he first took me to on my first hunt so many years ago. I was in grade one, about 6 years old I would say.
Time keeps marching on. Now my only son is sharing the hunt as per the photo of the last few mallards we took last fall before it froze. Strangely this is almost the same spot where I used to hunt with my old man.
Great adventure Mainehunt. I love hunting crows in the snow...ducks too. Great taking your father out for some fresh air as well. Further, I too in extreme situations have used my vehicle as cover. Crow don't seem to care even with the caller on the roof as long as the vehicle is a neutral colour. My buddy has an older blue and white GMC truck. Crows wont come near it.
Ted
The funny thing is, my truck is black and we were in the middle of a five hundred acre field covered in snow.
When I was a kid my dad used to carry me on his shoulders through the duck marsh. He'd leave me on a rat house and set a few deeks out. I'd watch the mallards play in and him shoot with precision. He would never waste a round as he was the product of the great depression of the 1930's. I loved doing that and remember those days like it was yesterday.
The last time I hunted ducks with my Dad was over a decade ago when he was in his late 70's. He shot a couple ducks and I almost had to carry him on my shoulders out of the marsh. When we got back to the truck he had his customary beer and he said " I'm done. Had a good run at it and a lot of good times". The strange creepy thing is that this was the very same spot he first took me to on my first hunt so many years ago. I was in grade one, about 6 years old I would say.
Time keeps marching on. Now my only son is sharing the hunt as per the photo of the last few mallards we took last fall before it froze. Strangely this is almost the same spot where I used to hunt with my old man.
Ted
M12, Nice story about your father. It reminds me of when Dad used to take me with him when he went squirrel hunting. Wehn I was 4 years old he took me to the woods one fall. I fell asleep in the leaves and he continued to hunt, then he couldn't find me. I was a sound sleeper back then. He tells that story all the time.
M12 & Mainehunt, great posts, everyone is right, it's about spending time with our friends & family. Whole lot more important than pulling the trigger. If we get some birds, thats just icing.
M12 & Mainehunt, great posts, everyone is right, it's about spending time with our friends & family. Whole lot more important than pulling the trigger. If we get some birds, thats just icing.
I agree completely, you're absolutely right.
When Dad and I were picking up the other day, I started to feel like we didn't do very good. But then I had to reconsider and realise what a great time we had, even if we hadn't shot any we still would have had a great time. At one point during the day, 2 crows came straight at us at just above eye level. They were side by side as they flew in. I whispered to Dad to take the one on the right. I hesitated just a second until he shot, then I whacked the other one. It was a nice moment to share with him, it just worked out nicely to get that "double" with him. That's a memory I'll always have.
My Dad passed away just a week ago... we were GOING to go crow shooting "one of these days."
Don't let the chance get past you. "One of these days" never comes.
On the upside, I have 50 years of hunting, fishing and clay target shooting memories of Dad. But the one thing we never got "around to" was shooting crows together.
He used to shoot crows back in the days of the big Missouri River roosts here in MO.... always told tales of shooting until the barrel got sizzling hot, and going thru a case of shells in a single shoot, etc. (This was back when a "case" of shells was 500).
Anyway... my point is, don't put off taking your Dad or son or whomever... It is LATER THAN YOU THINK.
My Dad passed away just a week ago... we were GOING to go crow shooting "one of these days."
Don't let the chance get past you. "One of these days" never comes.
On the upside, I have 50 years of hunting, fishing and clay target shooting memories of Dad. But the one thing we never got "around to" was shooting crows together.
He used to shoot crows back in the days of the big Missouri River roosts here in MO.... always told tales of shooting until the barrel got sizzling hot, and going thru a case of shells in a single shoot, etc. (This was back when a "case" of shells was 500).
Anyway... my point is, don't put off taking your Dad or son or whomever... It is LATER THAN YOU THINK.
